How to Squiggle Crochet

For a wonderful gift, pass your crochet skills along to the next generation.

Crocheted squiggles are a cinch to make and useful for decorating handbags, jewelry, afghans, vests, hats, scarves, free-form work or anything you want. To achieve different effects, crochet them with different stitches. A single crochet creates a tight squiggle, a half-double crochet relaxes the squiggle and a double crochet relaxes it even more. The size of your crochet hook also determines the length of the squiggle.

Things You'll Need

• Worsted weight yarn
• Crochet hook -- any size
• Scissors

Instructions

1. Review the three crochet stitches needed for making three different size squiggles:

   Make a single crochet by inserting the crochet hook into the stitch. Wrap the yarn around the hook once. Pull the yarn through the stitch. You now have 2 loops on the crochet hook. Wrap the yarn around the hook again, and pull the yarn through both loops. Cut the yarn and fasten it off with a knot. You made one single crochet stitch.

   Make a half-double crochet by wrapping the yarn around the crochet hook. Insert the crochet hook into the stitch. Wrap the yarn around the hook again. Pull the yarn through the stitch. There are now 3 loops on the hook. Wrap the yarn around the hook again and pull through all 3 loops at once. Cut the yarn and fasten it off with a knot. You made 1 half double crochet stitch.

   Make a double crochet by first wrapping the yarn around the crochet hook. Insert the crochet hook through the stitch. Wrap the yarn around the crochet hook, and pull the yarn through the stitch. There are now 3 loops on the hook. Wrap the crochet hook around the yarn again. Pull the yarn through 2 of the 3 loops. There are now 2 loops on the hook. Wrap the crochet hook around the yarn again and pull the yarn through both loops. Cut the yarn and fasten it off with a knot. You made 1 double crochet stitch.

2. Crochet a squiggle using a single crochet stitch. Make 20 chains. Then make 3 single crochets in the second chain from the hook. Repeat the 3 single crochets in each chain across to the end. Cut the yarn and fasten it off with a knot.

3. Crochet a squiggle using a half-double crochet stitch. Make 22 chains. Then make 3 half-double-crochets in the third chain from the hook. Make 3 half-double-crochets in each chain across to the end. Cut the yarn and fasten it off with a knot.

4. Crochet a squiggle using a double crochet stitch. Make 23 chains. Make 3 double crochets in the fourth chain from the hook. Then make 3 double crochets in each chain across to the end of the row. Cut the yarn and fasten it off with a knot.

Tips & Warnings

• After you finish a squiggle, give it a twist to shape it into the squiggle form some more.

• When you cut the yarn, leave enough of a tail, so you can attach the squiggle to your project.

References

• "The Complete Photo Guide to Crochet"; Margaret Hubert ; 2010
• "Embellished Crochet"; Cari Clement; November 2007
• "Knit One, Embellish Too"; Cosette Cornelius-Bates May 2008

Resources

• Lion Brand Yarn